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The Lighthouse Cat: A Heartwarming Picture Book About a Cat, His Keeper, and a Stormy Night for Children
In an old lighthouse, where a twenty-four-candle lantern lights a sparkling blue-green sea, dwell a solitary keeper and his little companion -- a cat called Mackerel. Together the two climb up, up, up to watch over the nighttime sea and down, down, down to eat and play.
On one stormy night, the quick rush of a fierce wind darkens every candle. Soon an errant fishing boat, lost in the raging black sea, signals distress. Sure enough, it is the sudden glow of twenty-four flashing yellow lights that guide the boat away from danger. Just what could those new lights be?
On one stormy night, the quick rush of a fierce wind darkens every candle. Soon an errant fishing boat, lost in the raging black sea, signals distress. Sure enough, it is the sudden glow of twenty-four flashing yellow lights that guide the boat away from danger. Just what could those new lights be?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2004
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 14, 2020
Taking as her inspiration the candle-powered lighthouse known as Smeaton's Tower, which stood at the Eddystone Rocks, south of Plymouth, England, from the mid eighteenth through the mid nineteenth centuries, Sue Stainton spins a tale of a lonely lighthouse keeper, and the cat, dubbed Mackerel, who came to be his best (and only) companion. When a terrible storm blows out all the candles in Smeaton's Tower, and a small fishing boat looks to be coming ever closer to the jagged rocks offshore, it seems that tragedy must follow. Fortunately, Mackerel knows just what to do, and, summoning all his feline compatriots from the nearby village, sets up a natural "light" using their reflective eyes.
Author/artist team Sue Stainton and Anne Mortimer, who have collaborated on a number of cat-centered picture-books, from Santa's Snow Cat to The Chocolate Cat , return to their favorite theme with The Lighthouse Cat. Although I cannot say that the story was exactly my cup of tea - something about the resolution of the crisis didn't appeal to me, most likely because I simply had trouble suspending my disbelief, and going along with the idea that the boat captain would see the cats' eyes, while being tossed about in the dark sea (not to mention that the cats would be organized in that way) - the artwork was immensely appealing. Mortimer really knows how to capture the feline charm! For another tale of a lighthouse cat, I would recommend Ruth Brown's Gracie, The Lighthouse Cat , which also takes a real lighthouse (and historic tale) as its inspiration, and which would make an excellent companion to Stainton and Mortimer's The Lighthouse Cat.
Author/artist team Sue Stainton and Anne Mortimer, who have collaborated on a number of cat-centered picture-books, from Santa's Snow Cat to The Chocolate Cat , return to their favorite theme with The Lighthouse Cat. Although I cannot say that the story was exactly my cup of tea - something about the resolution of the crisis didn't appeal to me, most likely because I simply had trouble suspending my disbelief, and going along with the idea that the boat captain would see the cats' eyes, while being tossed about in the dark sea (not to mention that the cats would be organized in that way) - the artwork was immensely appealing. Mortimer really knows how to capture the feline charm! For another tale of a lighthouse cat, I would recommend Ruth Brown's Gracie, The Lighthouse Cat , which also takes a real lighthouse (and historic tale) as its inspiration, and which would make an excellent companion to Stainton and Mortimer's The Lighthouse Cat.
September 28, 2024
Lovely and beautiful book!
I've been on a lighthouse theme when it comes to reading books lately and this children's book was such a treat. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so appealing. I really enjoyed the simple story, too.
This is now a must have for my lighthouse book collection! A definite winner!
I've been on a lighthouse theme when it comes to reading books lately and this children's book was such a treat. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so appealing. I really enjoyed the simple story, too.
This is now a must have for my lighthouse book collection! A definite winner!
July 16, 2025
Good book to read to children
April 1, 2021
THE LIGHTHOUSE CAT is an excellent children's book. I've read it many times to my grandchild who loves it. The book, which is filled with colorful illustrations, is a delight to read because it is so well written. Although the story is fiction, the lighthouse actually existed at one time. I highly recommend this book. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.
May 14, 2009
Being a lighthouse keeper is a lonely job that requires much dedication. Each night the lighthouse keeper climbs up, up, up the stairs to light the twenty four candles in the lighthouse beacon. Each morning he climbs the stairs again to extinguish the candles and perform the daily maintenance that keeps the light visible to passing ships.
One afternoon, the supply ship arrives with groceries for the lighthouse keeper. In addition to the usual food and supplies, the supply ship is also carrying a stowaway: a small silver cat. The keeper names the cat Mackeral and the cat becomes a steadfast companion to the lighthouse keeper.
Mackeral has many adventures on the island. He makes friends with puffins and seagulls, helps the keeper collect driftwood that is used to make furniture, finds a message in a bottle and scans the sea for passing ships.
During a very stormy night, wind extinguishes the candles in the lighthouse tower. The keeper tries to signal passing ships with a hand lantern, but the wind blows that out as well. Seeing this, Mackeral springs into action. He climbs to the top of the lighthouse tower and meows loudly. Eleven cats from nearby homes answer his call and join him in the lighthouse. Moonlight is reflected in the cats' eyes so that there are twenty four small glowing lights in the lantern room and ships can safely navigate to port.
Colorful illustrations and the repetitive language ("Up, up, up") will make this book a read aloud favorite.
The lighthouse featured in The Lighthouse Cat was inspired by Smeaton's Tower, which stood for over 100 years just south of Plymouth, England. The lighthouse was lit by twenty four large candles.
One afternoon, the supply ship arrives with groceries for the lighthouse keeper. In addition to the usual food and supplies, the supply ship is also carrying a stowaway: a small silver cat. The keeper names the cat Mackeral and the cat becomes a steadfast companion to the lighthouse keeper.
Mackeral has many adventures on the island. He makes friends with puffins and seagulls, helps the keeper collect driftwood that is used to make furniture, finds a message in a bottle and scans the sea for passing ships.
During a very stormy night, wind extinguishes the candles in the lighthouse tower. The keeper tries to signal passing ships with a hand lantern, but the wind blows that out as well. Seeing this, Mackeral springs into action. He climbs to the top of the lighthouse tower and meows loudly. Eleven cats from nearby homes answer his call and join him in the lighthouse. Moonlight is reflected in the cats' eyes so that there are twenty four small glowing lights in the lantern room and ships can safely navigate to port.
Colorful illustrations and the repetitive language ("Up, up, up") will make this book a read aloud favorite.
The lighthouse featured in The Lighthouse Cat was inspired by Smeaton's Tower, which stood for over 100 years just south of Plymouth, England. The lighthouse was lit by twenty four large candles.
July 10, 2009
I like that this story is about a cat and a lighthouse. I just don't really like stories like this that have such unrealistic events in them. Well, I guess it is supposed to be good for the imagination.
August 6, 2023
What a charming picture book! I love the realistic illustrations (Mackerel looks so soft, I wish I could just reach through the book to pet him!) and the story is quite interesting! Cats to the rescue! (I guess they do really have reflective eyes, huh? Which probably freaks out most modern cat owners, but definitely came in handy back in the time period of this book!)
Feels like it's meant for older kids because of how much text there is per page, but it probably makes a good read-aloud for younger kids. There's a good amount of repetition that they'll likely enjoy.
Feels like it's meant for older kids because of how much text there is per page, but it probably makes a good read-aloud for younger kids. There's a good amount of repetition that they'll likely enjoy.
October 3, 2017
Sort of a legend feel?? Weird book.
September 5, 2019
I love how realistic the pictures are and how it is actually inspired by a real lighthouse. The cats are so cute!
March 17, 2020
Totally not biased because Mackerel looks like my lil baby Nala cat....
September 2, 2023
be so for real rn
December 31, 2023
A cool book.
June 29, 2024
Super cute read! Had some informative stuff in the back about the Eddystone Lighthouses!
February 10, 2025
Children’s Picturebook. Lovely cat illustrations. Based on real lighthouse south of Plymouth, England. K-3 grade.
March 24, 2025
We all know cats are amazing! This book just reinforces that!!!
April 17, 2024
This is a beautiful fantastical story (based on a lighthouse in England) and the cat who lived there with the lighthouse keeper. At that time the signal light in lighthouses was candles. In this story, during one ferocious storm the candles in the lighthouse got blown out, and the cat did all that it could to get help to make a signal light for the fishing boat that was about to flounder on the rocks. Fabulous illustrations.
January 26, 2014
This is an absolutely wonderful book! The storyline and the illustrations! (The illustrations would be beautiful on a wall as paintings!) This book will capture your heart even if you don't like lighthouses or cats but if you enjoy those things you will be hooked! A special book explaining how a lonely lighthouse keeper finds a friend in a cat, and how the candles go out and how important it is to keep the candles lit. The cat meows out to the neighborhood cats and they all end up helping a fishing boat to know the lighthouse was there in a bad storm. A very sweet gentle book.
The words are bigger and long, so not for beginner readers. But a very great book to read to children (of any ages) and would open the way to help explain how lighthouses work, how important they are to ships to not wreck etc. Love, love, love this book...Am now going to try and find it to purchase for our home collection.
The words are bigger and long, so not for beginner readers. But a very great book to read to children (of any ages) and would open the way to help explain how lighthouses work, how important they are to ships to not wreck etc. Love, love, love this book...Am now going to try and find it to purchase for our home collection.
December 23, 2013
My five-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week, because the cat looks quite a bit like one of our cats, and because of the lighthouse. He loves lighthouses -- not sure why.
Holy Mackerel! This is a long book! This is probably the best story that I didn't read in its entirety. For the most part, I just read the first paragraph on every page. If something crucial happened in the story in other paragraphs, I read them, too. So I probably read about a third of the book. The story itself is absolutely wonderful. Never underestimate the power of a cat. Or her eyes.
I loved the illustrations, especially the one with the twelve cats. I would have given this book five stars if the editing had been tighter.
Holy Mackerel! This is a long book! This is probably the best story that I didn't read in its entirety. For the most part, I just read the first paragraph on every page. If something crucial happened in the story in other paragraphs, I read them, too. So I probably read about a third of the book. The story itself is absolutely wonderful. Never underestimate the power of a cat. Or her eyes.
I loved the illustrations, especially the one with the twelve cats. I would have given this book five stars if the editing had been tighter.
February 6, 2016
The man who makes sure the candles remain lit in the lighthouse receives a cat in his supplies from the mainland. They become fast friends. One stormy evening, the candles do go out and the man can't make it up to the top in time to stop a boat from smashing against the rocks. The cat yowls and howls and all his cat-friends come and (somehow) their yowling causes the moon to come out and is reflected in their eyes so the ship can see it. Left with a kind of "huh?" feeling after reading this.
Nice illustrations.
Nice illustrations.
September 17, 2013
Well written and lengthy for a bedtime book, but worth it. The lighthouse keeper suffers a setback and his candles blow out in the storm, luckily the cat he recently discovered, Mackerel, is able to summon every cat in the neighborhood, they all get to the top of the lighthouse and their gleaming, bright eyes, are like a beacon for the boat. Nice - especially, if your child has or loves cats.
March 9, 2008
Beautiful pictures, so-so story.
December 30, 2011
Love how the cats helped out.
November 16, 2012
Notes:
enjoyable
cats glowing eyes save the day when the candles blow out
enjoyable
cats glowing eyes save the day when the candles blow out
November 22, 2013
Beautiful artwork and very realistic cats
October 20, 2015
excellent story; beautiful paintings
July 2, 2010
Very charming.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews